A difficult airway is not more prevalent in patients suffering from spasmodic torticollis: a case series.

Purpose: We designed this retrospective study to assess the frequency of difficult airway and difficult intubation in patients with spasmodic torticollis and compare it to that of the general population.

Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval, data were collected from the charts of all the patients with spasmodic torticollis who underwent selective peripheral denervation at our institution between 1988 and 2001. The intubation grade was determined using the Cormack and Lehane laryngoscopic classification.

Incidences of venous air embolism and patent foramen ovale among patients undergoing selective peripheral denervation in the sitting position.

Objective: The incidence and severity of venous air embolism (VAE), a potentially fatal complication, among patients undergoing selective peripheral denervation in the sitting position have never been clearly established. We designed this retrospective study to assess the incidence and severity of VAE, the incidence of paradoxical air embolism, and the occurrence of patent foramen ovale, as detected with transesophageal echocardiography, as well as the effects of its detection on patient treatment.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, data were collected from the charts of all patients who underwent selective peripheral denervation at our institution between 1988 and 2001.

Perioperative use of transesophageal echocardiography by anesthesiologists: impact in noncardiac surgery and in the intensive care unit.

Background: The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has published practice guidelines for the use of perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) but the role and impact of TEE performed by anesthesiologists outside the cardiac operating room (OR) is still poorly explored. We report our experience in the use of TEE in the noncardiac OR, the recovery room and in the intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital, and analyze the impact of TEE on clinical decision making.

Methods: Two hundred fourteen patients were included and TEE indications were classified prospectively according to the ASA guidelines.

Impact of routine use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during cardiac surgery.

Purpose: To determine the relative impact of each category-based TEE indication according to the ASA guidelines.

Methods: In 851 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, TEE clinical indications were classified as category I or II according to the ASA guidelines. Category I indications are patients in which TEE is considered useful and category II are those where TEE is potentially useful but indications are less clear.

Haemodynamic interaction of high-dose fentanyl and increasing doses of vecuronium in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization.

Background: Bradyarrhythmia has been reported with vecuronium when given with high dose narcotics. We hypothesized that if the bradycardic response is dependent on a vagal reaction mediated by narcotics, it should be independent of the vecuronium dose. A dose-related response of vecuronium on heart rate (HR) would be in favour of a chronotropic action of this agent.